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Volume 40, Issue 12
April 8, 2003
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April 8, 2003
Dual enrollment threatened by state budget cuts
By Kimberly Hosey
Mesa Legend
The future of the dual enrollment program at Arizona community
colleges is in danger after Governor Janet Napolitano’s budget office
and the joint legislative committee proposed its elimination.
The proposal to remove dual enrollment was submitted in the Chairman’s
Proposal and would mean cutting $4 million in funding from Arizona community
colleges.
Approximately $2.5 million of this goes to Maricopa Community Colleges.
This is not the first time legislators have debated ousting the dual enrollment
program, according to Chris Bustamante, Assoicate Director for Legal Relations
for Maricopa Community Colleges.
It was proposed at least three or four other times in the recent past,
Bustamante said.
However, each time legislators have voted against elimination.
“We have every reason to believe dual enrollment will survive again,”
Bustamante asserted.
However, Bustamante added that it could be a different story this year
because of the statewide budget cuts.
There are many legislators who are in favor of continuing to fund dual
enrollment, according to Bustamante.
Without funding from the state, Bustamante said, it is very unlikely that
the dual enrollment program will continue.
Dual enrollment allows students to enroll in college classes before graduating
from high school, giving them first-hand exposure to college level work.
Students gain both high school and college credit for the same course.
Programs of this type have existed for over 30 years according to the
Community College Research Center but their enrollments have increased
rapidly in recent years.
About 600 to 1,000 Mesa students each year get a “head start”
on their college career through dual enrollment, according to MCC’s
extended campus dual enrollment specialist Gordon Benson.
The classes are taught on high school campuses by high school teachers
who are certified through the community colleges.
The curriculum is identical to that of a traditional college course as
are the materials and text books.
Offerings range from the traditional English, social sciences, and math
courses, to occupational classes such as fire science, nursing, photography,
child care, and more.
The future of dual enrollment is particularly significant at this time.
The importance of post secondary education to individuals increases in
a weakened economy.
Consequently, aiding students in their quest for a degree becomes more
important as well.
Larry Dukerich, who currently teaches Chemistry 151 and 152 as dual enrollment
courses at Dobson High School, believes the elimination of dual enrollment
would be tragic.
“The position that the state is taking runs contrary to our stated
goals of educating our students,” Dukerich commented. “If we
want our citizens to be prepared to function in a society that demands
increased technological competence and the ability to reason and communicate
effectively, than it would not be a wise move to pull the funding for
a program that helps students to develop these skills,” he added.
Additionally, dual enrollment allows motivated students to stay on campus
rather than commute to a college campus.
This way, students can remain involved in their school activities.
“Now (students) are able to accelerate their learning while still
on our campus, serving as role models and leaders,” stated Dukerich.
Perhaps the most obvious benefit of dual enrollment is that it affords
students an early start towards their college degree.
Many dual enrollers enter college as sophomores having already taken a
year’s worth of college courses during high school.
The courses are affordable for most students and their families.
Even if students plan to transfer to a different college or university,
dual enrollment is often a preferred option because the tuition is more
affordable at a community college than at public or private colleges and
universities.
Also, the schools pick up the tab for textbooks, which can mean a huge
savings in many cases.
According to Benson some schools such as EVIT even pay for students’
tuition.
Many high schools help by offering scholarships, and students’ parents
may qualify for tax credit through the Hope Scholarship Credit or the
Lifetime Learning Credit as a result of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.
Dual enrollment serves to ease the transition from high school to college.
Perhaps more daunting than the academic rigors of college is the “culture
shock” some students experience when moving from high school to college.
With dual enrollment classes offered at the students’ high schools
the transition from high school to college begins early in a familiar
and comfortable environment.
Students are not required to be on campus but they are welcome to use
campus facilities and may thus get a taste of the college environment,
said Benson.
“Dual enrollment helps students learn what is required of them in
college,” Benson commented, “There are no bells, no close supervision,
and much more out-of-class work. They realize ‘Hey, this is not the
same thing.’”
Dual enrollment provides an enhanced curriculum, and can challenge and
motivate bright students.
These students often complain that they are simply not challenged by their
current high school classes.
In this way, dual enrollment can boost college enrollment while inspiring
students to learn more.
These programs encourage communication and collaboration between community
colleges and high schools.
There are some critics of dual enrollment, who say that it does not show
clear benefits or that the program allows schools to “double dip,”
which means that both high schools and colleges receive funding for the
same student taking a particular class.
However, Benson declared that “double-dipping” is no longer
an issue.
Three years ago, Benson explained, the college would pay the teacher the
same as an adjunct (part-time) college professor, even though they were
already paid by their school district.
This is no longer the case, the teachers are not paid by the college,
and the courses are not state funded.
Also, the college and high school can no longer both receive funds for
the same class.
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